Salih calls for restraint after two die in large anti-government protests across Iraq

Iraq's President Barham Salih on Tuesday called for "restraint and respecting the law" after the security forces opened fire and used tear gas to disperse thousands of angry anti-government protesters in Baghdad, killing at least two and wounding more than 200. In a late-night tweet, Mr Salih said: "Peaceful protest is a constitutional right for all citizens. Our sons in the security forces have the duty to protect citizens’ rights and to maintain public security." He went on to say: "Iraq’s youth are looking towards reform and job opportunities, our duty is to meet these legitimate aspirations". He closed by saying "may the martyrs rest in peace and the wounded recover". The clashes were some of the worst in the Iraqi capital in more than a year, and signalled that the country could be facing a new round of political instability. On Tuesday afternoon, thousands of people marched on central Baghdad's Tahrir Square in what began as a peaceful rally. But as the slogans chanted by the crowd of mostly young men, some of whom were university students, became increasingly anti-government, riot police fired tear gas and rubber bullets. “We want the government to be changed. We are ruled by a bunch of parties and militias who have destroyed Iraq,” a protester told AP. Many of the demonstrators held posters of popular army commander Lt Gen Abdulwahab Al Saadi, whose recent dismissal sparked controversy, with some blaming the country's Iran-backed politicians. Iraqis largely credit Lt Gen Al Saadi with leading the fight against ISIS. As well as the capital, the protests spread to several Iraqi provinces and cities including Najaf, Nasiriyah and Diwaniyah. As dusk descended on Baghdad, the protests became more violent. The sound of live ammunition and gunfire was heard in videos being circulated by local journalists. A statement issued by the Iraqi interior and health ministries said that 40 members of the security forces were among the wounded. It said it regretted the violence that accompanied the protests in Baghdad and other provinces, blaming “a group of rioters”, while calling for calm and restraint. The protesters criticised the government's failure to improve public services and create jobs. After the protests, Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi promised jobs for graduates, the state-run news agency reported. Mr Abdul Mahdi instructed the oil ministry and other government bodies to start including a 50 per cent quota for local workers in contracts with foreign companies. Iraq suffered for decades under the rule of former dictator Saddam Hussein and UN sanctions, before the 2003 US-led invasion started years of civil war. The country is increasingly caught in the middle of US-Iran tension in the region, which began after the White House withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal last year. A US State Department official told The National that the Iraqi government was "aware of and monitoring the protests", and that the reports regarding the loss of life were "deeply concerning". "We believe that public demonstrations are a fundamental element of all democracies, but there is no place for violence in those demonstrations," the official said, calling on all sides for calm. Ali Al Bayati, a member of the Independent High Commission for Human Rights in Iraq, said that using violence against protesters was against the constitution. Mr Al Bayati said a member of the commission was injured in the protest. Balsam Mustafa, a researcher of Iraqi politics and society, said Iraqis were fed up with the government’s failure to meet their demands. "This time it is not only about electricity; the issue is much bigger than that," Ms Mustafa said. There were massive protests in Iraq last year, which began in the south – the heartland of the Shiite majority – and more this year over a lack of basic amenities, such as electricity. Clashes took place between the security forces and protesters who are incensed by collapsing infrastructure, frequent power cuts and widespread corruption. Over the past months, protests across Iraq have left scores of people injured. Similar protests and confrontations took place on Friday in the southern cities of Basra and Nasiriyah.

Salih calls for restraint after two die in large anti-government protests across Iraq

At least 200 people were wounded in what began as a peaceful rally